Staff report

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Based on the records, it was a game the Catawba women were supposed to win, but it’s rarely routine on those long road trips in the South Atlantic Conference.
Catawba needed five 3-pointers from Bri Johnson and four late free throws and two critical defensive rebounds from Marshauna Butler to prevail at Tusculum, 60-55.
Catawba (5-2, 2-0 SAC) got double-figure scoring from Johnson (17), Terri Rogers (16), Butler (11) and Alexis Newbold (10). Newbold and Butler had eight rebounds each.
It was 52-all with a little over three minutes left when Rogers fed Newbold for a layup. Then a steal by Rogers led to a layup by Morgan Franklin for a 56-52 lead with 1:59 remaining.
Tara Shields made a 3-pointer for the Pioneers (1-5, 0-3 SAC) with 1:30 left to slice Catawba’s lead to a single point.
Johnson missed from long range with 59 seconds left, but Tusculum missed twice, and Butler was able to secure the defensive rebound.
Butler then made two free throws with 22 seconds left for a 58-55 lead.
When Tusculum missed a 3-pointer to tie with five seconds left, Butler grabbed another big rebound and made two more free throws to clinch the win.
Shields made five 3-pointers and scored 17 points to lead Tusculum.
Catawba shot only 33.9 percent for the game but improved to 42.3 percent in the second half. Catawba out-rebounded the Pioneers by 10.
Catawba trailed 19-10 after a quarter, but the Pioneers went cold in the second quarter. Catawba took a 26-24 halftime lead on a 3-pointer by Johnson.
Johnson has scored 995 points in her three seasons with the Indians.
Catawba hosts Mars Hill and former North Rowan standout Aliyah Farmer next Saturday at 2 p.m.

CATAWBA (60)
Johnson 17, Rogers 16, Butler 11, Newbold 10, Hodges 4, Franklin 2, Brown, Tucker, Angelo.
TUSCULUM (55)
Shields 17, Head 15, Makakala 14, Wilson 2, Croff 2, Patterson 2, Murry 2, Queen 1.

Catawba 10 16 18 16 — 60
Tusculum 19 5 17 14 — 55